Skip to main content
U.S. flag

Utility Systems Operator Repairer

Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Yosemite National Park
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Due to changes in federal hiring requirements, this announcement will be closed on 7/16/2025 and re-announced after current issued certificates are exhausted. Notifications will be sent to individuals who have already applied.

These positions are located in Yosemite National Park, in the Division of Facilites Division, Utilities Branch.

These are Career/Career-Conditional Full-time career-ladder appointments.

Overview

Help
Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/09/2025 to 07/16/2025
Salary
$23.54 to - $36.33 per hour
Pay scale & grade
WG 5 - 10
Location
12 vacancies in the following location:
Yosemite National Park, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - Career-Seasonal Positions Available
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
10
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
PW-1549-YOSE-25-12741336-DE
Control number
838357200

Videos

Duties

Help

There are multiple career-seasonal and required occupancy positions included in this announcement.

This announcement covers

  • Utility Systems Repair Operator-Wawona Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant (WAU)
  • Utility Systems Repair Operator-Wastewater Treatment Plant and Water Treatment/Distribution El Portal (EPU)
  • Utility Systems Repair Operator-Yosemite Valley-Water treatment and distribution, sewer collection systems and lift stations
  • Utility Systems Repair Operator-Back Country Utilities (BCU) These positions are Career Seasonal, subject to non-pay from approximately November to March each year.
These positions are located in the Utilities Branch, Division of Facilities Management and Engineering, Yosemite National Park. The Park is open to travel year-round and has a visitor load in excess of four million annually. Yosemite has one of the largest and most complex utility operation and infrastructure in the National Park Service, protecting park resources and providing vital and necessary service for park visitors and operations. Facilities include: 22 wastewater treatment facilities, treating 270 million gallons of wastewater annually, 26 water systems, producing 278 million gallons of potable water annually and 5 backcountry compost toilets, removing about 14 tons of composted human waste annually. The occupant may be assigned to work in any facility or location in Yosemite National Park.

The Utility System Repairer Operator works under the supervision of a USRO Supervisor (Wastewater/Water Utilities). Responsible for assisting in the efficient repair, maintenance and operation of water and wastewater treatment plants, collection systems including lift stations, distribution systems, reservoirs, and ancillary equipment.
  • At the WG-5 level, the Utility System Repairer Operator Helper will assist journeyman operators in the efficient repair, maintenance and operation of water and wastewater treatment facilities, collection systems including lift stations and distribution systems.
The following duties are listed at the WG-08 and WG-10 level for this position:
  • Operate and troubleshoot lift station functions to include pulling and clearing clogged submersible sewage pumps and grinders, use ladder logic diagrams to determine cause and effect of control errors and equipment failure.
  • Operate water production systems to include turbine and centrifugal pumps and assist in the adjustment of Well flow control equipment such as blow-off valves, surge anticipators, as well as perform maintenance on chemical injection feed pumps and chlorine
This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 9, 2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be June 22nd, 2025, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 15th of each month when the categories for each cutoff have been exhausted. Eligible applications received after the first cutoff date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Some positions are career seasonal. The nature of seasonal work may vary from year to year, which is generally based on budget, workload, and/or weather. A career seasonal work schedule provides for at least 26 weeks (13 pay periods) of full-time work, and as many as 26 weeks (13 pay period) of non-duty/non-pay time per year as determined by management. The non-pay time for these positions may be two weeks to six months after the first year. The first year you may expect to be in pay status from March to end of November and in non-pay status from approximately the end of November to end of February. You will have the option to continue your health coverage while in non-pay status.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship required.
  • Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • Meet Selective Service Registration Act requirement for males
  • Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program.
  • You will be required to operate a government (or private) motor vehicle as part of your official duties; a valid driver's license is required. You will be required to submit a Motor Vehicle Operator's License and Driving Record. You must also submit (within a State sealed envelope or submitted directly by the State authorities), and at your own expense, all certified driving records from all States that disclose all valid driver's licenses, whether current or past, possessed by you.
  • WG-10 Backcountry (required occupancy) and career seasonal positions will be required to obtain a CDL within the first year of employment.
  • You may be required to complete training and operate a four-wheel drive vehicle.
  • You will be required to wear a uniform and comply with the National Park Service uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided.
  • You may be required to work on-call, evenings, weekends, holidays, overtime and shift work.
  • There are positions that are required occupancy. These required occupancy positions are only at the WG-8 and WG-10 levels. There are several positions that are not required occupancy and there is no housing available.
  • If you are a new employee or supervisor in the Federal government, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
  • Government Charge Card: You may be required to complete training and obtain/maintain a government charge card with travel and/or purchase authority.
  • Applicants must be at least (1)18 years old or (2) at least 16 years old and: (a) Have graduated from high school or been awarded a certificate equivalent to graduating from high school; or (b) Have completed a formal vocational training program; or
  • (c) Have received a statement from school authorities agreeing with their preference for employment rather than continuing their education; or (d) Be currently enrolled in a secondary school and either work only during school vacation periods or work part-time during the school year under a formal student employment program.
  • WG-08 and WG-10 certification requirements as listed in qualifications section.

Qualifications

SCREEN OUTS - If you do not possess the required licenses specified below, you will be rated ineligible. You MUST provide a copy of each license you possess at the time of application.

All Locations:

WG-08 and WG-10: (D-1) Water Distribution Operator License
WG-08: (T-1) Water Treatment Operator License
WG-10: (T-2) Water Treatment Operator License

Wawona and El Portal Locations you must also possess:
WG-08: (WW-1) Wastewater Treatment Operator License
WG-10: (WW-2) Wastewater Treatment Operator License

In addition to meeting the screen outs: To qualify for this position at all grade levels, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:

  1. Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT)
  2. Knowledge of equipment, assembly, installation, repair, etc.
  3. Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic)
  4. Use of Measuring Instrument
  5. Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. (includes blueprinting reading)
  6. Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  7. Knowledge of Materials
If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors.

For the screen outs at the WG-08 and WG-10 levels the required certifications must be provided at time of your application for further consideration.
  • (WG-08 and WG-10) You must possess a California Water Distribution (minimum D-1) certification (or equivalent), Condition of employment: obtain and maintain a California (D-1) certification.
  • (WG-08) You must possess a California Water Treatment (T-1) Operators certification (or equivalent). Condition of employment: obtain and maintain a California (T-1) certification.
  • (WG-10) You must possess a California Water Treatment (T-2) Operators certification (or equivalent). Condition of employment: obtain and maintain a California (T-2) certification.
  • (WG-08) Wawona and El Portal locations: You must possess and maintain a California Waste Water Treatment Operator (WW-1) certification (or equivalent). Condition of employment: Obtain and maintain a California (WW-1) certification.
  • (WG-10) Wawona and El Portal locations: You must possess and maintain a California Waste Water Treatment Operator (WW-2) certification (or equivalent). Condition of employment: Obtain and maintain a California (WW-2) certification
  • (WG-10) Backflow Prevention Certification required within 1 year for all permanent year-round positions.
Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

A Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized for a newly selected employee when appointed to a permanent, temporary, or term position. A Federal employee who is transferring to the National Park Service from another component, bureau or Federal agency and who does not meet the conditions under 5 CFR 575.102 is not eligible for a recruitment incentive.

A Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized for a Federal employee when the employee must move, as directed by the National Park Service (NPS) either through a management directed reassignment or selection for employment, to a different location at least 50 miles away from the one where his/her position of record held at time of selection is currently located, due to a need of the NPS. A relocation incentive is not the same as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move and, as such, may be granted in conjunction with one another.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Wage Grade (WG) positions.

Additional information

This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if identical vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificates.

These are career-ladder positions with a full performance level of WG-10. Ladder promotions are not guaranteed or automatic.

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

There are required occupancy positions in this announcement. These positions require the incumbent to occupy designated housing in the park.

Non-government housing: may be available for rent or purchase in the local communities of Groveland, Mariposa, Midpines, Bootjack, Oakhurst, and Catheys Valley. El Portal is a small community bordering the west side of Yosemite National Park and 15 miles west of Yosemite Valley.

Physical Demands: Work assignments typically require moderately heavy physical effort to lift, carry, or otherwise handle items typically weighing up to 40 pounds. As the trainee learns the trade, duties may require the incumbent to maneuver into and out of specific locations while dismantling and assembling utility related equipment. Under close supervision, the incumbent may make repairs from ladders, scaffolding, and platforms where the parts of systems worked on are in hard-to-reach places. Frequent standing, walking, bending, crouching, reaching, and stooping is possible. Occasionally, climbing and work in high places may be required, as well as the use of hoists, holders, and pulleys when handling large equipment.

Backcountry positions: Ability to work at elevations up to 11,000 feet and hike up to 15 miles. Position works with livestock.

Working Conditions: Work is both indoors and outdoors where the trainee may be subject to prevailing weather conditions. The incumbent may be exposed to biological hazards or diseases while cleaning equipment or shoveling sludge, and hazardous gases such as methane, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide. The incumbent may also be subject to electrical shock, loud noises, acids, and hydraulic fluids while working around motors and pumps. There is exposure to shock, burns, and strains. The incumbent follows prescribed safety practices and uses safety equipment such as face shields, gloves, hard-toe shoes, respirators, and protective clothing that may be uncomfortable to wear. The incumbent is required to attend and participate in safety meetings and training and review and follow safety regulations and policies prior to using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as goggles, rubber mats, gloves, hard hats, and respirators as the jobs require. The incumbent may be required to operate motor vehicles.

The National Park Service has determined that the duties of this position are not suitable for telework.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully; errors or omissions can affect your rating.

Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. These procedures place candidates with veteran's preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Veterans with a service connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher. Under Category Rating, candidates will be rated and ranked into one of three categories:

  • Best Qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position
  • Well Qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in most of the requirements of the job
  • Qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors and are proficient in some, but not all of the requirements of the job.
You will be evaluated on the following competencies and/or job elements:
  • Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREEN OUT)
  • Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specification, etc. (includes blueprints reading)
  • Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation Repair, etc.
  • Knowledge of materials
  • Technical Practices (theoretical precise, artistic)
  • Use of Measuring Instructions

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.